Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Football adds three to roster; pair of Division I transfers
03/11/2011 | 12:00:00 | Football
March 11, 2011
By Jason Clay
SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - Southern Illinois head football coach Dale Lennon announced Friday that two student-athletes from Division I schools have transferred to SIU and have been admitted into school.
Jewel Hampton, a 5-9, 210-pound running back from Iowa and LaVarus Williams, a 5-11, 200-pound defensive back from Central Michigan have transferred to Southern Illinois.
Hampton is enrolled in 12 credit hours this spring semester at SIU. Williams will join the team over the summer and has been admitted into school. Both student-athletes will have two years of eligibility with the Salukis.
"We're excited that Jewel Hampton is enrolled at SIU for the second half of spring semester and will be able to work out with the team during spring ball," Lennon said. "The recruitment of Jewel has been a work in progress since December, but our focus can now be on getting Jewel back to 100 percent physically and ready to contribute this fall.
"LaVarus Williams is a corner back transfer from Central Michigan who will bring quality experience to our secondary unit. LaVarus will join the team this summer and up to this point, all indicators concerning his injury look positive for a full recovery."
In addition, offensive lineman Matthew Griffith out of Marion, Ill. will join the team as a priority walk-on in 2011. Griffith was a two-time All-Conference lineman at nearby Marion High School
Hampton ran for 463 yards and seven touchdowns while averaging 23.3 yards on 23 kickoff returns as a true freshman at Iowa in 2008. In the summer of 2009, he suffered a knee injury that cost him his entire sophomore season and then in 2010, in his second game, he suffered another season-ending knee injury. Hampton had 114 yards rushing and one touchdown in 2010.
Hampton was a First Team All-State running back at Indianapolis' Warren Central High School after rushing for 2,095 yards and 27 touchdowns as a senior. His high school team won state championships in 2004, 2005 and 2006.
Williams played in four games and made one start as a true freshman in 2008. He recorded a career-high nine tackles, intercepted a pass and forced a fumble against Purdue, but suffered a season-ending knee injury the following week in practice.
In 2009, he played in all 14 games and intercepted one pass. Last season, he started at cornerback in the first three games.
Williams was the runner up for Indiana's Mr. Football award coming out of Ben Davis High School, also in Indianapolis. He garnered All-State and All-Conference accolades as a senior and was a two-way player as a defensive back and wide receiver.
The Salukis are schedule to begin spring practices on Monday, March 28 and the spring game is set for Friday, April 22 at 7 p.m. in Saluki Stadium.
